Interior designer Elliot James Barratt discusses the distinctive elements of British-style interiors and the decor trends to watch
Could you describe the design philosophy of Elliot James?
Elliot James Barratt (EJB) Our company ethos is about bringing the British mark of quality to all areas of the company, be it personal service, the quality of build to the attention to detail.
We believe our clients are the most important; it’s not about an Elliot James signature design, it’s about reflecting our clients’ needs and their personalities. We spend a lot of time analysing our clients’ habits as well, making sure that the design concept works for their lifestyle. We don’t look into designing showflats or show homes, we want to produce a home rather than a house.
(Related: This New Service Will Change The Way You Shop For Appliances)
How does this influence your design aesthetic?
EJB The Elliot James style is refined and understated; we don’t like to be over complicated. We do a lot of layering, and do clean lines for the floors and walls, then inject pops of colour in the foreground or through materials and fabrics.
Our starting point tends to be a particular chair or artwork and we’ll build the design around that. We like to take clients’ personal items or personal artworks that they already own, and inject it into the design we produce. Craftsmanship is also very important to make sure that people get bespoke, well-built furniture, designed in a style that’s built to last.
In your opinion, what are the quintessential elements of British style?
EJB I think the British do eclectic very well, as we have a lot of antiques and history when it comes to interior design. We enjoy mixing the contemporary and the modern with the more traditional and classic.
It’s something that’s not easily achieved; it needs to look natural and not contrived or too staged. I like working with rich materials like leather, brass and velvet. I also love natural wood, which brings a certain warmth to the interior.
(Related: Hotel Review: Tatler Checks Into... The Bloomsbury Hotel London)